Exploring the long-term impact ofstudy abroad: A case study of Japanese
Hiroshi Ota, Ph.D.,
Yuki Watabe, Ph.D., Yukiko Shimmi, Ph.D., Hiroko Akiba, Ph.D.,

Hitotsubashi University
P.I. : Masahiro Yokota, Ph.D., Meiji University
Australian International Education Conference“Creating global graduate: Maximizing the career benefits ofinternational student mobility“
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
October 20, 20161

Presentation Objective and Research
Problems
Objective:
To present the comparative analysis of the Study Abroad Groupand Non-Study Abroad Group on the undergraduate andgraduate levels.
Research Problems:• Are there differences in subsequent life experience of Japaneseindividuals who did and did not study abroad?
• Are there differences in the impact of study abroad among thethree groups of study abroad participants: 1) UG degree abroad,2) UG credit-bearing abroad, and 3) Graduate degree abroad? 2

Large-scale retrospective online survey
Survey period and respondents

Selection Criteria

1.

1.

2.

People with study abroad
experience
Period: January-May, 2015
Number of respondents: 4,489

People without study abroad
2.
experience
Period: August-September, 2015
Number of respondents: 1,298

People with study abroad experience• At the least, lived primarily in Japan during elementary and juniorhigh school; studied abroad for three months or more after
graduation from a Japanese senior high school.
• The aim of study abroad was to learn a language, obtain adegree, or earn credits.

People without study abroad experience• No experiences of studying or living abroad for longer than 3months, did not live overseas as a child• Had not acquired foreign language proficiency, did not use a
foreign language at home, had not studied at an international
school in Japan prior to entering a Japanese university• Graduated from a Japanese university• Working for a company located in Japan, housewife or
unemployed3

Survey Questions
Categories
Abilities

Questions

Scales# ofItems

As a result of study abroad [graduation from a Japanese university], which ofthe following abilities do you consider improved?

(４) Strongly Agree －(１) Stronglydisagree

１８

How do you define the level of the language(s) you currently use other thanJapanese?
How often do you use the language(s) other than Japanese in which you arecompetent [the foreign language in which you are most competent] in yourcurrent job?

Foreign Language Proficiency(１) Native Proficiency(２) Professional working proficiency(３) Limited working proficiency(４) Daily conversation proficiency
Foreign Language Use(１) Often－ (４) Never２

To what extent do you consider that study abroad [your experiences atJapanese university] influenced your career?

(４) Strongly Agree － (１) Stronglydisagree

６

To what extent do you consider that the following aspects of your studyabroad [Japanese university] experiences were valued by recruiters?

(４) Strongly Agree － (１) Strongly
disagree４

What differences do you perceive regarding career development andtreatment, compared with coworkers of your age without study abroad
experience？<only for people with study abroad experience>(５) Very high － (１) Very low

７

Perceptions/
ValuesTo what extent do you feel that your awareness of the following increased asa result of study abroad [graduation from a Japanese university]?

(４) Strongly Agree － (１) Strongly
disagreeBehavior

To what degree do you consider that your involvement with the following
types of activity has increased as a result of study abroad [graduation from aJapanese university]?

(４) Frequently participate － (１) Neverparticipate

８Attitudes

Please select one from the following choices (A or B) which apply to you
regarding the following items.

(４) Close to A － (１) Close to B

８Satisfaction withlife and work

How satisfied are you with each of the following items?

(４) Strongly Agree － (１) Strongly
disagree

６Career

１６4Respondent Groups
Academic Leveland TypePeople with study
abroad experience(SA Group)

Length of Study
AbroadResponses
NumberPercentage

UG degree abroad

More than 3years

416

27.3%

UG credit-bearing/otherstudy abroad

3-12 months

757

49.6%

1,173

76.9%

353

23.1%

1,526

100.0%

710

57.4%

528
1,238

42.6%
100.0%

Sub-total
Masters / PhD abroad
Total
People without study
UG degree in Japanabroad experience(Non-SA Group)
Masters / PhD in Japan
Total

More than 1year

5Respondent Profiles: Gender
Non-SA GroupSA Group
Categories

MaleFemale

Total #UG degree abroad

52.4%

47.6%

416

UG credit-bearing/other study abroad

50.3%

49.7%

757

Sub-Total

51.1%48.9%

1,173

Masters / PhD
abroad

58.9%

41.1%

353

Total

52.9%

47.1%

1,526

Categories

MaleFemale

Total #UG degree in
Japan

47.0%

53.0%

710

Masters / PhD in
Japan

54.5%

45.5%

528

Total

50.2%

49.8%

1,238
6

Respondent Profiles: Field of Study
Non-SA Group:

SA Group:
Science &Engineering

Humanities& SocialScience

HealthScience

Others

Total
#

Type

UG degreeabroad

13.2%

72.6%

3.4%

10.8%

416

UG degree inJapanUG creditbearing/other study
abroad

8.2%

87.7%

0.8%

3.3%

757

Science &Engineering

Humanities& SocialScience

15.6%

84.4%

TypeType

Masters /PhD abroad

Total #353

TypeMasters /PhD in Japan

Science &Engineering

Humanities& Social
ScienceHealthScience

OthersTotal#22.0%

60.7%

6.1%

11.3%

710

Science &Engineering

Humanities& Social
Science

Total #

60.6%

39.4%

528

7

Respondent Profiles: Age
50’s orolder

SA Group
UG degree abroad
UG credit-bearing/otherstudy abroad

20’s oryounger

Total #

3799

69

13218

Female

1976

76

27198

Male71115

109

86381

Female

1893

155

110

376

12.4%

32.7%

34.9%

20.1%

1,173

40’s

30’s

20’s oryounger

Total #

50’s or
older

Non-SA Group

Total

30’s

MaleTotal

UG degree in Japan

40’sMale100

114

100

20334Female

44130

12775

376

17.0%

34.4%

34.2%

14.4%

710
8

Respondent Profiles: AgeSA Group
Masters / PhD abroad
Non-SA Group
Masters / PhD in Japan

50’s orolder
27.8%
50’s or
older
12.5%

40’s

30’s

37.7%

28.3%

40’s

30’s

34.5%

37.3%

20’s oryounger

Total #

6.2%

353

20’s oryounger

Total #

15.7%

528

9

Study Abroad Destinations

UG degreeabroadUG creditbearing/other studyabroad
Masters / PhD
abroad
Total

U.S.A

UK &Ireland

EUcountries(exceptUK &Ireland)

Male

83.9%

5.0%

2.8%

2.8%

2.3%

1.4%

1.9%

218

Female

71.7%

7.1%

3.5%

5.1%

5.1%

7.1%

0.5%

198

Male

55.4%

9.7%

10.5%

8.7%

6.0%

3.4%

6.3%

381

Female

44.9%

10.4%

10.9%

15.2%

8.0%

7.2%

3.5%

376

Science &Engineering

60.0%

10.9%

14.5%

0.0%

7.3%

1.8%

5.5%

55

Humanities &Social Science

56.7%

23.5%

6.4%

3.0%

4.7%

2.7%

3.0%

298

59.4%11.6%

7.9%

7.5%

5.6%

4.3%

3.5%

1,526

EastAsia

Oceania

CanadaOtherTotal

10Analysis
1) The weighted averages of responses were computed and shown inradar charts by the 6 categories:(1) Abilities, (2) Perceptions, (3) Behaviors, (4) Career, (5) Hiring
Process, and (6) Satisfaction with life and work
4 = strongly agree; I frequently participate
3 = tend to agree; I sometimes participate
2 = relatively disagree; I seldom participate
1 = strongly disagree; I never participate

2) Compared the results by five groups• UG level (3 segments): UG degree abroad, UG credit-bearing/other study abroad, and UG
degree in Japan• Graduate level (2 segments): Graduate degree abroad, Graduate degree in Japan• One way ANOVA (F-value: p <.001; Post-hoc test: p<.05) was conducted.
• The weighted averages of items are presented on radar charts

11Improvement in Abilities“As a result of your study abroad [graduation from a Japanese university],
which of the following abilities do you consider improved?”*Question in square brackets was those for respondents without study abroad experience.
12

Improvement in Abilities

weighted averages
4 = strongly agree
3 = tend to agree
2 = relatively disagree
1 = strongly disagree

UG level (3 segments)

Specialized knowledge/skills
Basic academic ability /4.0
Logical thinking
general education & culture
3.5
Critical thinking
Foreign Language Proficiency
3.0
2.5

Problem-solving

2.0

Communicative ability

1.5
1.0

Perseverance

0.5

UG degree abroad (416) 3.20.0

Leadership

Creativity
UG credit-bearing/other 3.0
study abroad (757)
UG degree in Japan (710) 2.3Knowledge of society / customs /culture of destination [of foreign country]

Positive attitude /ability to take action

Social Skills
Teamwork

Ability to deal with other cultures

Flexibility
Resilience to stress
Ability to attain goals
13

weighted averages

Improvement in Abilities
Graduate level (2 segments)

Specialized knowledge/skills
Basic academic ability /4.0
Logical thinking
general education & culture
3.5
Foreign Language Proficiency
Critical thinking
3.0

4 = strongly agree
3 = tend to agree
2 = relatively disagree
1 = strongly disagree

2.5

Problem-solving

2.0

Communicative ability

1.5
1.0

Perseverance

0.5

Knowledge of society / customs /culture of destination [of foreign country]

0.0

Leadership

Creativity
Masters/PhD abroad 3.2(353)
Masters/PhD in Japan 2.6(528)

Positive attitude /ability to take action

Social Skills
Teamwork

Ability to deal with other cultures

Resilience to stress
Flexibility
Ability to attain goals
14

Improvement in Abilities

weighted averages
4 = strongly agree
3 = tend to agree
2 = relatively disagree
1 = strongly disagree

5 segments

Specialized knowledge/skills
Basic academic ability /4.0Logical thinking
general education & culture
3.5

Critical thinking

Foreign Language Proficiency

3.02.5

Problem-solving

Communicative ability

2.0
1.50.5

UG degree abroad (416) 3.2
UG credit-bearing/other study
abroad (757) 3.0
Masters/PhD abroad (353) 3.2
UG degree in Japan (710) 2.3
Masters/PhD in Japan (528) 2.6

Knowledge of society / customs /culture of destination [of foreign country]

1.0

Perseverance

0.0

Creativity

Leadership
Positive attitude /ability to take action

Social Skills
Teamwork

Ability to deal with other cultures

FlexibilityResilience to stress

Ability to attain goals
15

Career
To what extent do you consider that your study abroad [Japanese university]
experiences influenced your career?
*Question in square brackets was those for respondents without study abroad experience.
16

Current Job Position0%

UG degree abroad (394)UG credit-bearing/other study abroad (693)

20%

14.2%

7.6%

Masters/PhD abroad (348)

13.2%

UG degree in Japan (670) 0.3%

16.9%

Masters/PhD in Japan (526)18.6%

Percentage (%) inmanagement roles*

40%

18.3%

20.1%

60%

43.4%

42.2%

68.5%

71.3%

100%

15.0%

54.3%

27.9%

80%

9.1%

32.5

12.4%

5.6%

27.7

9.5%

7.2%

41.1

14.0% 0.3%

17.2

10.1%

18.6

Executive / board
memberManagerial classincluding heads ofdepartments / sections,managers, professors etc.
General staff classincluding assistantprofessors, etc.
Part-time / contract staff

Other*The percentage in management roles is the total proportion of those in “the executive/board member class” and in
the “managerial class.”
17Current Annual Income
Average annual income(Unit: 10,000 yen)
UG degree abroad (416)14.4%

UG credit-bearing/other study abroad (757)
Masters/PhD abroad (353)

20.2%

7.4%

UG degree in Japan (652)
Masters/PhD in Japan (484)

27.4%

27.2%

16.5%

14.2%

23.4%

19.0%

11.3%

16.5%

20.0%

28.1%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

8.9%

70.0%

80.0%

2〜4 million yen

4〜6 million yen

6 〜8 million yen

8〜10 million yen

10〜15 million yen

15〜20 million yen

over 20 million yen

547.0 (5.47m)
479.3 (4.79m)
792.9 (7.92m)

5.5% 2.8%
0.3%
0.3%

449.1 (4.49m)

6.8%0.4%

553.0 (5.53m)

12.0%

0〜2 million yen*PPP for GDP: US$1 = JPY106 (OECD 2015)
1 million yen = US$9,433

3.0%.9%.9%

5.4% 5.4%

11.8%

15.5%

60.0%

5.0%1.9%
1.9%

15.6%

27.8%

33.3%

10.0%

10.1%

15.5%

14.2%

40.2%

3.9%

0.0%

25.0%

90.0%

100.0%

18

The weighted averages

CareerUndergraduate level (3 segments)

Helpful in planning my career
4.00
3.50

4=strongly agree
3=relatively agree
2=relatively disagree
1=strongly disagree

3.00

I gained motivation to workwith an NPO/in social action

2.50
2.00
1.50

Helpful in gaining my current
job

1.00
0.50
0.00

I gained motivation to start aventure(both for-profit and not-forprofit)
UG degree abroad (394)Helpful in obtaininga higher current
salary2.72

UG credit-bearing/other study abroad (693) 2.49
UG degree in Japan (710) 1.96

I use knowledge and skills
gained while studying abroad[at Japanese universities]
in my current job

19

The weighted averages

CareerGraduate level (2 segments)

Helpful in planning my career
4.00
3.50

4=strongly agree
3=relatively agree
2=relatively disagree
1=strongly disagree

3.00

I gained motivation to workwith an NPO/in social action

2.50
2.00
1.50

Helpful in gaining my current
job

1.00
0.50
0.00

I gained motivation to start aventure(both for-profit and not-forprofit)
Masters/PhD abroad (348) 2.91
Masters/PhD in Japan (528) 2.24

Helpful in obtaininga higher current
salaryI use knowledge and skills
gained while studying abroad[at Japanese universities]
in my current job

20

The weighted averagesCareer

Helpful in planning my career

5 segments

4.00
3.50

4=strongly agree
3=relatively agree
2=relatively disagree
1=strongly disagree

3.00

I gained motivation to workwith an NPO/in social action

2.50
2.00
1.50

Helpful in gaining my current
job

1.00
0.50
0.00

I gained motivation to start aventure(both for-profit and not-forprofit)

UG degree abroad (394) 2.72
UG credit-bearing/other study abroad (693) 2.49
Masters/PhD abroad (348) 2.91
UG degree in Japan (710) 1.96
Masters/PhD in Japan (528) 2.24

Helpful in obtaininga higher current
salaryI use knowledge and skills
gained while studying abroad[at Japanese universities]
in my current job

21

Hiring Process
To what extent do you consider that the following aspects of your study
abroad [Japanese university] experiences were valued by recruiters?
*Question in square brackets was those for respondents without study abroad experience.
22

Survey period: March 17, 2014 – June 27, 2014
Survey respondents: 423 HR managers at companies in Japan which were clients of DISCO Inc.

Page 12 ofSummary
23 Reportweighted averages

My study abroad experience
was valued[My undergraduate or graduate degree
was valued per se]

Hiring Process

UG level (3 segments)

4 = strongly agree
3 = tend to agree
2 = relatively disagree
1 = strongly disagree

4.00
3.50
3.00
2.50
2.00
1.50
1.00

My experience of communicatingwith foreigners was valued

0.50
0.00

The language skills I gained through study
abroad were valued[My foreign language competencies werevalued]

UG degree abroad (415) 2.87
UG credit-bearing/other study abroad (757) 2.60
UG degree in Japan (710) 1.88

The specialized knowledge and skills I
gained through study abroad were valued24

weighted averages

My study abroad experience
was valued[My undergraduate or graduate degree
was valued per se]

Hiring Process

Graduate level (2 segments)

4 = strongly agree
3 = tend to agree
2 = relatively disagree
1 = strongly disagree

4.00
3.50
3.00
2.50
2.00
1.50
1.00

My experience of communicatingwith foreigners was valued

0.50
0.00

The language skills I gained through study
abroad were valued[My foreign language competencies werevalued]

Masters/PhD abroad (353) 3.09
Masters/PhD in Japan (528) 2.05

The specialized knowledge and skills I
gained through study abroad were valued

25

weighted averages

My study abroad experience
was valued[My undergraduate or graduate degree
was valued per se]

Hiring Process
5 segments

4 = strongly agree
3 = tend to agree
2 = relatively disagree
1 = strongly disagree

4.00
3.50
3.00
2.50
2.00
1.50
1.00

My experience of communicatingwith foreigners was valued

0.50
0.00

The language skills I gained through study
abroad were valued[My foreign language competencies werevalued]

UG degree abroad (415) 2.87
UG credit-bearing/other study abroad (757) 2.60
Masters/PhD abroad (353) 3.09
UG degree in Japan (710) 1.88
Masters/PhD in Japan (528) 2.05

The specialized knowledge and skills I
gained through study abroad were valued

26

Average of Weighted Averages Abilities
6 Categories
4.00
3.50
3.00

UG degree abroad

Satisfaction with LifeUG credit-bearing/other study abroad
and WorkMasters/PhD abroad

2.50
2.00

Perceptions

1.50
1.00

UG degree in Japan

0.50

Masters/PhD in Japan

0.00• The means of study abroad groups were higher thannon study abroad groups.
Hiring-process• SA participants: impact on improvement in abilities andchanges in perceptions & values were higher• SA for a degree, esp. a graduate degree: impact on careerand hiring-process were higherBehaviors

Career27

Results of One-way ANOVA(1)
UG degree(2)
UG creditbearing

(3)

(4)
Master / PhD UG inabroadJapanMSDMSDMSDMSDMSDF-value

Post-hoc testAbilities

3.23.46

3.01.46

3.25.47

2.33.53

2.56.54371.283, 1>2>5>4

Perceptions

2.97.57

2.88.56

3.05.55

2.01.57

2.07.64428.203>2, 5, 4
1>5, 4
2>5, 4Behaviors

2.14.71

2.26.73

2.35.71

1.64.58

1.69.59140.013, 2>1>5>4

Career

2.69.70

2.46.73

2.91.61

1.95.60

2.24.64160.83

3>1>2>5>4

Hiring-process

2.87.86

2.60.87

3.09.77

1.88.532.05.58

255.94

3>1>2>5>4

Satisfaction
with life andwork

2.72.64

2.74.59

2.91.61

2.45.55

2.58.59

45.48

3>2,1>5>4

1) F-value: p <.001; Post-hoc test: p<.05
2) The type of Post Hoc Test was Games-Howell.

(5)

Master / PhD
in JapanThe means of the study abroad groups (3, 2, 1) werehigher than the non-study abroad groups (5, 4). 28

Further Study
Global HR Development and Long-term Impact of Study Abroad
AcademicDiscipline

Gender and Age

SkillsLanguage
Ability

Activities

Purpose ofStudy Abroad

Type ofInstitution
ValuesDuration ofStudy AbroadMid- andLong-term
ImpactWebsiteSatisfaction

Type ofStudy Abroad
CareerAttitudes

Destination
CountryEmployer Survey

Perceptions

Activities andExperiences

http://recsie.or.jp/project/gj5000/
Download the summary of the survey results: http://recsie.or.jp/gj5000en

Interview People
with Study AbroadExperienceHiroshi Ota, Hitotsubashi University

Thank you for your attention!
Hiroshi Ota, Ph.D.
Professor, Center for Global Education
Director, Hitotsubashi University Global Education Program
Hitotsubashi University

E-mail: h.ota@r.hit-u.ac.jp30